Diogo Jota has paid tribute to Federico Chiesa after the Liverpool forward scored his first goal for the club in the Reds’ 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley. The Italian came off the bench at half-time against the League Two outfit to make only his fifth appearance for the club.

Injuries, illness and struggles adjusting to the required intensity of English football have ultimately curtailed Chiesa’s impact so far, since joining from Juventus last summer, but he caught the eye with a lively showing in the FA Cup third round tie.

And Jota, who completed his first 90 minutes since early-October after a long-term injury of his own, was delighted for his team-mate as he finally able to show supporters what he can do.

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“First 90 minutes in a very long time!” he said. “It's good to get the rhythm back and to build up for a very important second half of the season.

“Everyone is very happy for him (Chiesa). Obviously he didn’t have much game time since he arrived.

“But we can see every time he’s on the pitch he looks dangerous, he can score and luckily for him and for us he did that today and another one to build up.”

Jota opened the scoring for Liverpool as he converted Darwin Nunez’s low cross. With it rare that the two are on the pitch at the same time under Arne Slot, the Portuguese admitted their partnership is a work in progress.

But he was left impressed by teenager Rio Ngumoha after the 16-year-old put in an eye-catching debut as he became the youngest ever player to start for the Reds.

“I'm always happy when I score,” he told LFC TV. “We (Jota and Nunez) try to speak to each other.

“There's not many times where we've been together at the same time on the pitch. There were things to work on but it was a good beginning.

“We know his (Ngumoha’s) ability to go 1v1. We tried to give that space to him. I think their team knew as well, they doubled up and tripled up at times which is not easy.

“But such a young lad, making his debut is a special day for him. I hope he enjoyed it, he will only get better.

“He's been with us but competing is always a bit different, especially here with a full crowd. A remarkable moment for him that he will remember forever.”